The Victoria SlutWalk

It’s time to STOP persecuting the victims, and START prosecuting the rapists.

The SlutWalk is a movement that began in Toronto, Ontario in response to a comment made by Constable Michael Sanguinetti on Crime Prevention at York University, stating that women should avoid dressing like sluts in order to avoid being victimized. The response from this comment was large and unexpected, inspiring a gathering of over 3,000 people in the city of Toronto to gather at Queenʼs park. The gathering began with speeches followed by a march to the police station. Since the occurrence of the first SlutWalk, there has been growth all over North America, spurring the fastest growing feminist movement in over 20 years. It has gathered thousands of men and women, and been debated heavily in the media.

The SlutWalk initially encouraged women to dress in everyday clothing, in order to portray an image of the average women, although many dressed as “sluts” instead. The SlutWalk is a movement designed to help combat rape culture, stop victim blaming, and create a society which encourages sexual empowerment and an attitude of disgust toward those who do not respect boundaries.

Victoria’s SlutWalk aims to emulate the same message. We want to move the shame experienced by individuals who experience sexual assault and move it to the the RAPISTS. We want to perpetuate a message that encourages sexual assault victims to access the resources available to them, create a safe space for those who want to report sexual assault, and let people know that these resources are available in the first place.